MGMT 330 Exam #1

Sun Unlimited Energy is a company that produces solar panels for domestic use. It has 800 permanent employees working in different departments. Suppose the company gets involved in a case of intentional employee discrimination. What is the maximum amount of punitive damages it would have to pay under the Civil Rights Act of 1991?

$300,000

A vehicle manufacturing company decides to hire 35 employees for its new servicing branch located in Louisiana. A total of 90 eligible applicants apply for the job, of which 40 are black and 50 are white. Assuming that the company decides to hire 10 blacks and 25 whites, what can be inferred using the four-fifths rule?

0.5 < 0.8; this indicates that there is evidence of discrimination.

Which statement is true of a psychological contract?

A psychological contract is not formally put into words.

Which scenario demonstrates a violation of the right of freedom of conscience in a workplace environment?

A supervisor coerces an employee to use unsafe practices to keep a project on schedule.

Jamie, a manager at a construction company, contends that applying industrial engineering is the simplest way to structure work and maximize efficiency. Which statement supports Jamie's argument?

Applying industrial engineering reduces the complexity of work.

Argus Chemicals is a chemicals manufacturer with a large research and development team searching for new alternatives to gasoline. Because it develops new chemicals and is constantly innovating, the Department of Labor cannot possibly keep up with specific safety and health standards for its workplace. Some of the managers are asking Brooklyn, the human resource manager, if that means they don't have to bother trying to comply with all the OSHA regulations. What should Brooklyn recommend?

Be constantly alert for potential sources of harm and correct them.

Identify the similarity between the outsourcing and overtime strategies for avoiding a labor shortage.

Both strategies have high revocability.

Cory, a physicist at HealthAir, recently received an award for several patents he earned that enabled the company to help slow climate change by reducing carbon emissions. Jamie, HealthAir's vice president of human resources, is eager to get news coverage of the Cory's award. She knows that, in addition to drawing positive attention to the company, the publicity will support recruitment. Which statement best supports Jamie's thinking?

Creating the impression of HealthAir as a place where talented people make a difference can attract talented job candidates.

Identify the correct statement regarding downsizing.

Downsizing often disrupts the social networks through which people are creative and flexible.

Betty heads the production department at Riffer Inc., a firm that stresses the importance of maintaining regular contact with customers. Betty is expecting a labor surplus in the future. Mike, a supervisor, recommends downsizing as an option to deal with this labor surplus, however, Betty rejects this option. Which statement will validate that Betty made the right decision?

Downsizing would hurt long-term organizational effectiveness.

__________ formally lay out the steps an employee may take to appeal an employer's decision to terminate that employee.

Due-process policies

Fernando, a human resource executive, is meeting with the executive team to discuss the need to fill a soon-to-be-vacant position for vice president of the company's Medical Devices Division. Normally, he posts vacancies on the company's website, but he encourages the team to allocate funds to hire an executive search firm (ESF) for filling this position. Which statement best supports Fernando's recommendation?

ESFs provide confidentiality for employer and recruit, giving access to better candidates.

Nora is interested in a career in human resource management. She expected her first job to focus on giving employees access to information and enrollment forms for training, benefits, and other programs. However, she has since learned that HR employees spend less time doing that kind of work. Which trend is behind that change?

Employees can now get such information through self-service.

What is necessary for the success of employee empowerment?

Employees must be properly trained to exert their wider authority and use information resources such as the Internet.

Which statement reflects a violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act?

Employees over the age of 40 are forced to retire as part of a company's downsizing program.

Which of the following requires the federal government to base all its employment policies on merit and fitness?

Executive Order 11478

A person can file a claim under the Fourteenth Amendment on charges of racial discrimination if he or she is fired by a private employer.

False

Fiona, a white female applicant, is refused a job at a local college in favor of a less qualified minority applicant. She could consider suing the college on charges of reverse discrimination under the

Fourteenth Amendment.

Which statement is true about the HR profession?

HR generalists usually perform the full range of HRM activities.

Which view on employment reflects the ethical principles embodied in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights?

HR managers must view employees as having basic rights.

Which statement is true about downsizing?

HRM can provide downsized employees with outplacement services to help them find new jobs.

Chris, the director of operations, strongly believes that human resource management (HRM) is critical to the success of organizations. Jamie, the CFO of the organization, opposes Chris' view because she thinks HRM is an unnecessary expense for the company. Which statement weakens Jamie's belief?

HRM is indispensable for building a competitive advantage.

Holly is a member of the human resource department at Invert Corp. Setting a goal to enhance the firm's strategy, Holly works to attain it by understanding the current human resources. Through a series of surveys, interviews, and observations, she learns what talents the various departments of Invert Corp. are currently in need of, and attracts new human resources according to those requirements. What kind of HRM responsibility does this example illustrate?

HRM's responsibility to serve as a strategic partner

Identify the correct statement regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

If an OSH Act violation results in citations, an employer must post each citation in a prominent place near the location of the violation.

Identify the case in which disparate treatment is considered legal.

In a certain shopping mall, female workers are exclusively employed to clean the women's restroom.

Which statement is correct regarding internal recruitment sources?

Internal recruiting minimizes the possibility of unrealistic employee expectations.

Identify the benefit of relying on internal recruitment sources.

Internal sources are generally cheaper and faster than other means.

Why is temporary employment popular with employers?

It gives employers flexibility in operations.

How has the use of employee empowerment affected the recruitment process in the United States.?

It has shifted the focus away from technical skills to general cognitive and interpersonal skills.

Which statement is true of a bona fide occupational qualification?

It is a necessary qualification for a job.

Given that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has published numerous standards, what is the significance of the OSH Act's general-duty clause?

It is very significant, because NIOSH cannot anticipate all possible hazards.

Select the statement that characterizes the Civil Rights Act of 1991.

It limits the maximum punitive damages allowed depending on the size of an organization.

Which statement best describes outsourcing?

It refers to contracting with another organization to perform a broad set of services.

Which statement best describes offshoring?

It refers to moving operations from the country where a company is headquartered to a country where pay rates are lower but the necessary skills are available.

Which of the following best describes a phased-retirement program?

It refers to reducing both the number of hours older employees work as well as the cost of these employees.

Identify the disadvantage of using the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ).

It results in abstract reports that are of limited use.

Which scenario exemplifies an individual in the external labor market?

Morgan, an engineering graduate, looking for a job

An OSHA compliance officer visited the warehouse of CAM Worldwide to conduct an inspection. The inspector found several safety violations related to items that could tip over and fall. She discussed these violations with CAM Worldwide's facility supervisor and human resource manager. What is most likely to happen next?

OSHA gives the company a time frame within which to correct the violations.

El Niro Inc. is automating processes so the company can meet its demand with a smaller workforce. The CEO asks Megan, the vice president of human resources, for advice on how to address the resulting labor surplus. Megan studies the workforce and observes that many employees are in their 50s and 60s. Furthermore, these employees are the highest-paid workers in every job category. Based on this information, what should Megan suggest as the most effective way of addressing El Niro's labor surplus?

Offer early retirement incentives to the employees in their 50s and 60s.

An automobile painting facility experienced a breakdown in one of its ventilation fans, causing a buildup of fumes. What must the facility do in this situation to meet the employee rights under the OSH Act?

Promptly inform the affected employees about their exposure to hazards.

Identify the correct statement regarding reasonable accommodation.

Reasonable accommodation is typically provided in situations involving individuals with disabilities or different religious needs.

__________ influence the kinds of job applicants an organization reaches.

Recruitment sources

Which statement is correct about the HR responsibilities of supervisors?

Supervisors typically have responsibilities related to all the HR functions.

Lennon, the branch manager of a local bank, wants to initiate a teamwork system because he believes it will improve the performance of the branch. Which statement provides valid support for Lennon's idea?

Teamwork makes work motivating for employees and helps reduce labor costs.

Sarah, an HR executive, observes that telework or telecommuting has been a rising trend. She considers developing a policy to allow telecommuting at her company. Which statement is a fact about telecommuting that would support implementing this policy?

Telecommuting may support a strategy of corporate social responsibility.

Mia's use of illegal drugs limits her ability to walk properly. The elevator at her office was not working for many months, so Mia needed to climb two flights of stairs and had difficulty getting to her desk. She tried suing her company under the Americans with Disabilities Act, arguing that her company discriminates against individuals who cannot perform major life activities. Which statement would weaken Mia's argument?

The ADA does not cover conditions of substance abuse.

During downsizing, the HRM function must "surgically" reduce the workforce by cutting only the workers who are less valuable in their performance. What is a reason for this being difficult to achieve?

The best workers may leave before the organization lays off anyone.

Yoza Inc., a manufacturer of electronic goods, is experiencing financial losses. The company is also facing the problem of a labor surplus due to low demand for its products. In this context, what would be the best way for Yoza Inc. to deal with this labor surplus?

The company must consider downsizing because it is the quickest way to deal with a labor surplus that results in financial losses.

Sean works in the human resource department of a well-known and highly respected maker of athletic equipment. He suggests that the company expand its recruiting by placing job advertisements on popular websites for job seekers. However, his supervisor says this has become a poor use of the company's recruiting dollars. Which is the most likely reason for the supervisor's objection?

The company will be flooded with applications from individuals who are barely qualified.

Milo determines that his company spent $15,000 to hire three new programmers through employee referrals and another $75,000 to hire five new programmers through a private employment agency. Which statement is correct about these recruiting efforts?

The cost per hire for referrals was lower, at $5,000 per hire.

An OSHA inspector completed her inspection of a mining operation, including a walkaround and employee interviews. Then the OSHA inspector sought a restraining order from a federal court. What can you infer from this action by the inspector?

The inspector found a violation that could cause serious injury or death.

Which statement is true about referrals?

The use of referrals can contribute to nepotism.

When Lily started working for Tough Guy Construction, two of her coworkers made a point of telling sex-related jokes around her, and they occasionally ran their fingers through her hair and suggested meeting up after work. Lily feels uncomfortable. What grounds would she have for complaining to the human resource department about her coworkers?

Their behavior could be considered creation of a hostile working environment.

Identify the correct statement regarding sustainable organizations.

They are more concerned about justice and fairness than short-term profits.

What is a key advantage of human resource information systems?

They help HR professionals think strategically.

Companies are finding that to survive they must contend in international markets as well as fend off foreign competitors' attempts to gain ground in the United States. What would help businesses in the United States meet these challenges?

They must prepare employees for global assignments.

What is true of companies that use a "lead-the-market" pay strategy?

They pay more than the current market wages for a job.

Excel Software is having difficulty filling all its positions for systems analysts. The company's human resource manager suggests introducing a kind of personnel policy known as a due-process policy. How is that most likely to help with recruitment?

This policy implies greater job security and concern for employees.

Global Trade Enterprises has a policy statement making it clear that it does not tolerate sexual harassment. It set up an employee hotline for reporting harassment. When it received complaints about one of the maintenance workers, the company took action and corrected the problem immediately. However, two months later, it is receiving more complaints, this time about a supervisor on the night shift. What else should Global Trade do to keep the workplace free from sexual harassment?

Train all employees to identify inappropriate workplace behavior.

Under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, pay differences are permitted between men and women performing the same job if the difference arises from any factor other than sex.

True

Identify a benefit of applying statistical forecasting methods.

Under the right conditions, they provide predictions that are much more precise than a human forecaster's subjective judgment.

The __________ is the set of guidelines issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other agencies to identify how an organization should establish a recruitment process that is free and fair.

Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures

The process of getting detailed information about jobs is referred to as

a job analysis.

Which term refers to an organization's active effort to find opportunities to hire or promote people in a particular group?

affirmative action

A chemical company buying a medical equipment manufacturing company is an example of

an acquisition.

Clark Corp., an automobile manufacturer, purchases Forward Inc., a company that produces auto parts and accessories. This scenario exemplifies

an acquisition.

The Americans with Disabilities Act protects individuals who

are severely disfigured.

Hayden is the human resource manager at Silver Corp. He clearly understands the company's strategy. He has a solid understanding of business principles, and he applies these to help the HR department contribute to Silver's success. This scenario indicates that Hayden has competency in the area of

business acumen.

Green Gusts is a two-year-old company that makes wind turbines. The business owner, Mike, is struggling to compete. Finding enough employees who know how to do the work has been difficult, and Mike believes that his labor costs are too high because he cannot afford to match the prices of his nearest competitors. To help with these problems, Mike hires a new HR manager, Jake. Jake recommends they start by bringing in an industrial engineer. How is this approach to job design most likely to help Green Gusts?

by simplifying work and increasing output per worker

How can an HR department that is considered its company's strategic partner help the company gain a competitive advantage?

by understanding the existing human resources and providing new ones

Which responsibility is specifically associated with the HR function of employee relations?

conducting attitude surveys

The right of privacy is the right to

control what a person reveals about their private life.

Herbert, an HR manager at Maxtier Inc., hires 50 employees in five months. He used different sources of recruitment to recruit these employees. He wants to know which kind of source delivered the most new hires for the money. To answer that question, Herbert should determine the

cost per hire.

Identify the type of case where most of the debate focuses on discriminatory consequences and the plaintiff need not prove an employer's intent to discriminate.

disparate impact

Differing conduct toward individuals, where the differences are clearly based on the individuals' race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability status is termed as

disparate treatment.

Employees realize that many companies are no longer able to provide long-term employment security. Instead, the employees now want

employability.

Berns Inc. hires Allen as a supervisor in the company. They have an implied understanding that both the employer and the employee have the right to end their relationship at any time they desire. In the context of personnel policies, the relationship between the company and Allen is based on the

employment-at-will policy.

Which strategy is used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to increase ergonomic job design?

enforcing violations of its requirement that employers have a general duty to protect workers from hazards, including ergonomic hazards

Fizzy Inc. is a soft-drink manufacturing company. Anne, the production manager, works with a human resource consultant to design a new work flow for the production unit. Together they define the necessary inputs. These include raw materials, information, human resources, and

equipment.

Which action associated with an OSHA inspection can result in criminal charges?

falsifying records subject to the inspection

Which action could be an example of how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration plays a role in the legal environment for human resource management?

filing lawsuits against alleged violators of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, employers must reemploy workers who left jobs to fulfill military duties for up to __________ years.

five

What is the first step in the human resource planning process?

forecasting

According to the philosopher Immanuel Kant, the right of employees to know the nature of the job they are being hired to do and the obligation of a company not to deceive them in this respect is mainly reflective of the basic right of

free consent.

Kent, a manager at ITP Inc., was asked by his supervisor to sign a contract with a new supplier. The contract stated that the industrial waste released by the company would be released into a local river. Kent was against this idea of polluting the river with the waste, so he refused to sign the contract. In this scenario, Kent exercised his right of

freedom of conscience.

Michael, an employee at a book publishing company, is unhappy with his company's existing project management system. He decides to communicate this to the top management by expressing his complaints in an email. According to the work of philosopher Immanuel Kant, Michael is applying his right of

freedom of speech.

Organizations carry out human resource planning to

gain an advantage over competitors.

Which term refers to organizations that have the best possible fit between their social system and their technical system?

high-performance work systems

What are the most widespread methods for eliminating labor shortages?

hiring temporary workers and outsourcing work

Twyla is a benefits specialist at McCallister Manufacturing. She negotiates contracts for insurance, retirement plans, and other employee benefits in order to get the best possible deal while meeting all legal requirements. She understands the details of each benefit and is able to help employees understand the value of their benefits. This scenario illustrates Twyla's competency in the area of

human resource expertise.

Ryan, a regional manager for a leading automobile company in the United States, decides to design a manufacturing job based on the principles of industrial engineering. Following its successful implementation, which outcome should he expect?

increased efficiency

The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was introduced to enhance employment opportunity for

individuals with disabilities.

Maria is a recruiter with a bachelor's degree in business administration. She is well respected among her peers for her professional standards and understanding of the HR field. However, she has noticed that when she recruits engineers for her company, they sometimes seem unresponsive to her. The most likely reason for this is because Maria

is perceived as less credible because she is an HR specialist.

Padwick Logic, a nationwide logistics company, has announced the opening of a new unit for the manufacturing division. Ashley, the HR manager, has been asked to help plan for the creation of the new unit. What relates to the task undertaken by Ashley, if she is involved in the process of explaining how an employee will execute his or her tasks?

job design

Identify the method that breaks down jobs into basic elements to rate them for their potential for harm or injury.

job hazard analysis technique

Which of the following is an internal source of recruitment?

job postings

In the context of forecasting the demand for labor, using trend analysis, inventory levels, changes in technology, and actions of competitors are examples of

leading indicators.

The HR function of maintaining positive employee relations includes

maintaining communication with union representatives.

Evelyn, the HR manager at Freton Inc., recruits her cousin Gia as production manager in the company. This move results in resentment among several of the company's employees. By hiring her cousin, Evelyn has engaged in the practice of hiring relatives, or

nepotism.

A meatpacking facility has been neglecting employee health and safety. If employees contact OSHA to request an inspection, what can the facility's management expect?

no advance notification from OSHA

Aubrey is a human resource executive for a manufacturing company that makes a variety of consumer products in several facilities. She is studying U.S. injury and illness trends from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify issues the company should address in its human resource policies. As she looks at nationwide trends since 1990, Aubrey identifies one that companies should correct. Which trend represents a problem for U.S. employers to address?

number of claims of retaliation against employees who report injuries

The most important source of recruits for entry-level professional and managerial vacancies is

on-campus interviewing.

Organizations use outsourcing as a way to

operate more efficiently and save money.

Ashley thinks that her company is discriminating against a particular group of employees by denying them seniority or promotions. She expresses her concern to a senior human resources manager. This method of expressing concern about an instance of illegal employment through proper channels is known as

opposition.

In the context of evaluating the quality of a recruitment source, yield ratios express the

percentage of applicants who successfully move from one stage of the recruitment and selection process to the next.

Which aspect of recruitment is most likely to affect the nature of the positions that are vacant?

personnel policies

In the context of human resource planning, the primary goal of forecasting is to

predict labor shortages or surpluses in specific areas of an organization.

The relationship between an employer and an employee can be thought of in terms of a(n) __________, a description of what an employee expects to contribute in an employment relationship and what the employer will provide the employee in exchange for those contributions.

psychological contract

The management of J&A Homes expects its employees to be enthusiastic about their work by seeking training, putting in long hours of work, initiating better work procedures, and maintaining a sound balance between professional life and personal life. In return, the firm's employees expect management to arrange for better incentives, flexible work schedules, and increased authority to execute their tasks. This scenario is an example of a(n)

psychological contract.

What is a challenge associated with an outsourcing strategy?

quality-control problems

When an individual is promised a positive outcome for submission to sex, or threatened with a negative outcome for failure to submit to sex, this is referred to as

quid pro quo harassment.

Amber wants to apply for a job vacancy. She calls the recruiter who advertised this vacancy to learn more about the job. The recruiter gives some background information about the positive and negative qualities of the job to Amber. Which term refers to the job information given by the recruiter?

realistic job preview

In the context of managing human resources, the process of __________ creates a buffer between planning and the actual selection of new employees.

recruiting

Vino, an HR manager at Jacoby Beverages, identifies and attracts potential job seekers to his organization. In the context of HRM functions, Vino is carrying out the __________ process.

recruiting

Mable Textiles, a garment manufacturing company, implements a new technology to improve the speed of its production process. To do this effectively, the company decides to train its employees on how to use this new process. The company also implements new quality checks and efficiency measures, reducing the costs of production while delivering better quality products. This process of making changes to vital company technology to make it more efficient is known as

reengineering.

When an organization undertakes a complete review of its critical work processes to make them more efficient in an effort to deliver higher quality, it is engaging in

reengineering.

The process by which an organization attempts to identify applicants with the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that will help the organization achieve its goals is referred to as

selection.

The growth in e-commerce and the information economy has led to an increase in the demand for employees in

service occupations.

According to the Equal Pay Act of 1963, men and women performing the same job cannot have differences in pay on the basis of

sex.

To gather information about worker requirements, the Fleishman Job Analysis System typically asks __________ to evaluate a job in terms of the abilities required to perform the job.

subject-matter experts

In the context of HR planning, implementation that ties planning and recruiting to an organization's strategy and to its efforts to develop employees becomes a complete program of

talent management.

Which of the following represents an act of participation in a proceeding?

testifying in an investigation

What is the primary professional organization for HRM that provides education and information services, and is also the world's largest human resource management association?

the Society for Human Resource Management

Which agency is primarily responsible for enforcing the laws passed by Congress?

the executive branch of the government

According to the affirmative-action plan required by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which term refers to a comparison of the race, sex, and ethnic composition of an employer's workforce with that of the available labor supply?

utilization analysis

Paul's Pizza, a pizza chain, is known for its quick service. To make a pizza, employees must prepare the dough and add the sauce and toppings. Cooking happens next, followed by packaging. In this scenario, the employees of Paul's Pizza are engaged in

work processes.

Solarn Inc. is a relatively new company that employs 23 workers. When it finished a major contract, the owner realized that there wasn't enough work left for all the remaining workers. The company is negotiating contracts that could provide future work in a few months, but it currently must address its labor surplus in order to remain financially sound. What is the best strategy to deal with this labor surplus?

work sharing

Tyler has joined a start-up manufacturing company as its human resource manager. One of his first responsibilities is to make sure the company complies with the OSH Act. Under this law, what records must Tyler keep?

work-related injuries and illnesses, with an annual summary of these

Orion Trucking had its human resource department set up an online suggestion program, and employees submitted 376 ideas for improving workers' safety and health. An assistant in the department entered all the responses into a database. What additional step would be most important to add to this safety program?

working with management to ensure the company acts on the suggestions